This isn’t the very latest episode of the Freakonomics podcast, but we were hooked into the fastenating contact when we tuned into it today… Tyler Cowen points fingers and gives some specific, surprising reasons why American food got so bad. One big historical factor: Prohibition. (photo credit: Jazz Guy)

We’ve all heard of NASAs Apollo space programme, but how many of us actually know how Apollo got to the moon? This in-depth discussion with W. David Woods author of How Apollo Flew to the Moongives a complete insight into the process and technology behind one of mans greatest historical achievements.

Most weeks This American Life is the most popular podcast in the US, with more than a half million people downloading each episode. This week, stories where a longtime standoff keeps both sides coming back for more. Including a story about the time in Poland’s recent history where the country’s two political blocks came together and believed, however briefly, they’d be able to set aside their differences. And another story about a college rivalry gone viral, and personal.

When a person has alien hand syndrome, his or her hand can move involuntarily, and seemingly of its own volition. Watch as Josh and Chuck from Stuff You Should Know investigate this misunderstood syndrome.

Every morning we wake up and regain consciousness — that is a marvelous fact — but what exactly is it that we regain? Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio uses this simple question to give us a glimpse into how our brains create our sense of self.